Network system, switch, and server

• US 6,873,602 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Ambe, Michiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N.
• Application Number:
  US09/620,119
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.33, 370254-255, 370/99.5, 370/396, 370/351, 370/390, 370/336, 370/395.53, 370/914, 370400- 40, 370/395, 370352-355, 370/94.5, 395/500, 395/200.23, 395/200, 395/200.49, 395/287.01
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4691 GVRP [GARP VLAN registration protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/122 of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV]

Abstract

A network system which automatically reconfigures its virtual LAN (VLAN) topology when a terminal station is relocated or newly added. When a terminal is relocated from one switch'"'"'s local group to another switch'"'"'s, the latter switch examines incoming frames from the relocated terminal, consulting its VLAN configuration table stored in a first storage unit. If this terminal turns out to be unknown to the switch, a query unit in the switch will request information about the unknown terminal by sending a query message to a server that manages the configuration of the network system. In response to the query, a searching unit in the server scans data records in a second storage unit, thus recognizing that the terminal in question has been relocated. The server then identifies to which VLAN the terminal is supposed to belong. A transmission unit in the server sends this information back to the requesting switch. According to the response from the server, an updating unit in the switch modifies its VLAN configuration table stored in the first storage unit.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

(a) a plurality of terminals which send and receive packets, each terminal belonging to one of a plurality of logical groups;

(b) a plurality of switches which interconnect said plurality of terminals by receiving and forwarding the packets originating from said terminals, each of said switches comprising;

first storage means for storing information that is used to identify logical group membership of a source terminal of a received packet,

query means for sending a query to request information about the logical group membership, when said first storage means has failed to provide sufficient inflation to identify the logical group membership of a particular source terminal, and

updating means for updating the information stored in said first storage means according to a response to the query sent by said query means; and

(c) a server which controls said plurality of switches, comprising;

second storage means for storing a list of identifiers of the terminals, in association with the logical groups to which the terminals belong,

searching means for searching said second storage means in response to the query from a requesting switch,

transmission means for receiving a search result from said searching means and sending the search result to said requesting switch,

supposition means for suggesting a specific logical group to which said source terminal in question is supposed to belong, based on the identifier of the source terminal, when said searching means has failed to provide the requested information; and

third storage means for storing a list of the switches being available in the network system, in association with a list of the logical groups that can be assigned to the terminals belonging to each switch'"'"'s local terminal group,

wherein, when the query is received from said requesting switch, said server consults said third storage means to find logical group relevant to said requesting switch, and if the relevant logical groups do not include the logical group to which said source terminal in question is supposed to belong, prevents enrollment of said source terminal in a non-included logical group.

2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means sends the search result to other switches in addition to said requesting switch.

3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises logical group producing means for producing a new logical group when said supposition means has failed to suggest any specific logical group for said source terminal in question.

4. The network system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises notification means for so notifying an administrator if said requesting switch is not included in the list of the available switches.

5. The network system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises registration means for adding an entry for said requesting switch to said third storage means, when the list of the available switches does not include said requesting switch.

6. A server for use in a network system, which controls a plurality of switches that interconnect a plurality of terminals by receiving and forwarding packets originating from the terminals, the server comprising:

storage means for storing a list of identifiers of the terminals, in association with logical groups to which the terminals belong;

searching means for searching said storage means in response to a query from one of the switches;

transmission means for receiving a search result from said searching means and sending the search result to the switch that has sent the query;

supposition means for suggesting a specific logical group to which a source terminal in question is supposed to belong, based on the identifier of the source terminal, when said searching means has failed to provide the requested information;

another storage means for storing a list of the switches being available in the network system, in association with a list of the logical groups that can be assigned to the terminals belonging to each switch'"'"'s local terminal group,

wherein, when the query is received from a requesting switch, said server consults said another storage means to find logical groups relevant to said requesting switch, and if the relevant logical groups do not include the logical group to which said source terminal in question is supposed to belong, prevents enrollment of said source terminal in a non-included logical group.

7. A computer-readable medium which stores a computer program being designed to run on a computer in order to cause the computer to fiction as a server comprising:

storage means for storing a list of identifiers of terminals, in association with logical groups to which the terminals belong;

searching means for searching said storage means in response to a query from one of the switches;

transmission means for receiving a search result from said searching means and sending the search result to the switch that has sent the query;

supposition means for suggesting a specific logical group to which a source terminal in question is supposed to belong based on the identifier of the source terminal, when said searching means has failed to provide requested information; and

another storage means for storing a list of the switches being available in the network system, in association with a list of the logical groups that can be assigned to the terminals belongings to each switch'"'"'s local terminal group;

wherein, when the query is received from a requesting switch, the server consults said other storage means to find logical groups relevant to the requesting switch, and if the relevant logical groups do not include the logical group to which said source terminal in question is supposed to belong, prevents enrollment of said source terminal in a non-included logical group.